Arizona authorities are asking for the public’s assistance for any clues or tips that will lead to the person responsible for leaving an infant behind a strip mall in Phoenix.
Fox 10 reports that police responded at around 1 p.m. on Thursday to a call about an unresponsive infant behind a business at 35th Avenue and Baseline Road. First responders also arrived and pronounced the baby dead at the scene.
The infant was found behind a martial arts center at the strip mall, between two dumpsters.
According to Sgt. Ann Justus, the baby appeared to be a newborn. It’s unclear how long the baby had been there before being discovered. Justus said the gender of the baby is not being released at this time due to an ongoing investigation.
Officers are now reviewing security footage and canvassing the area for any clues that can lead them to whoever left the infant.
The Safe Baby Haven law has been in place in Arizona since 2001, AP reports, which allows parents to drop newborns off within 72 hours to any haven providers. Haven providers include hospitals, fire stations, adoption agencies, churches, and on-duty emergency medical technicians.
Justus said there have been no known reports of missing babies in the area that match the newborn’s description. She’s unsure whether the baby died at the scene or died elsewhere before being left at the strip mall.
Anyone with information should contact the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
